Planting Design

Planting design is what gives a garden character, movement, seasonality and life.

The hard landscape may establish:

• Levels

• Paths

• Terraces

• Walls

• Structures.

But planting determines how the garden feels.

A successful planting scheme should do much more than fill the spaces left between paving and lawn.

It should respond to:

the house + soil + aspect + climate + garden style + maintenance expectations + way the garden is used.

At Kirman Design, planting is considered as part of the overall garden design rather than something added at the end of the construction process.

We provide professional planting design throughout North West England, including Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and the Ribble Valley.

What Is Planting Design?

Planting design is the professional planning of:

• Trees

• Shrubs

• Hedging

• Perennials

• Grasses

• Climbers

• Groundcover

• Bulbs

within a garden.

It considers far more than individual plant choices.

A planting designer needs to think about:

• Height

• Spread

• Habit

• Texture

• Colour

• Season

• Repetition

• Density

• Maintenance

• Long-term growth.

The aim is to create a planting scheme that works both aesthetically and horticulturally.

Planting Design Is Not Just Choosing Plants You Like

Most people can identify plants they enjoy.

The more difficult task is combining them into a coherent garden.

A planting scheme needs to answer questions such as:

• Which plants should repeat?

• Which plants provide structure?

• Where should height occur?

• What happens in winter?

• How will the planting look in five years?

• Which plants suit the soil?

• How much maintenance will be required?

Good planting is therefore about relationships between plants rather than simply collecting attractive species.

Why Professional Planting Design Matters

Professional planting design can help avoid common problems such as:

• Too many unrelated plants

• Repetition that is too weak

• Gaps in winter

• Plants outgrowing their positions

• Plants failing because conditions are wrong

• Borders that look good for only a few weeks

• Excessive maintenance.

A well-designed scheme creates structure first and then layers seasonal interest through it.

Planting Should Be Designed With the Garden

The planting strategy should be developed alongside:

• Paths

• Patios

• Walls

• Steps

• Views

• Outdoor living spaces.

Our Complete Garden Design and Build page explores how the whole garden can be coordinated from the beginning.

For the construction side, see Landscape Construction.

Planting and Soft Landscaping

Planting design determines what should be planted and where.

Soft landscaping is the physical preparation and installation of those living elements.

Our Soft Landscaping page explores:

• Soil preparation

• Plant installation

• Lawns

• Hedging

• Trees.

The two stages should work together.

What Does a Planting Designer Do?

A professional planting designer may:

• Assess the site

• Review soil and drainage

• Consider light levels

• Establish planting character

• Select plants

• Develop combinations

• Produce a planting plan

• Specify plant quantities and sizes.

The process should translate a broad ambition such as:

“I want it to feel natural but still structured”

into a practical planting scheme.

What Is a Planting Plan?

A planting plan is a drawing showing:

• Plant positions

• Species

• Cultivars

• Quantities.

Depending on the project, it may also indicate:

• Plant sizes

• Spacing

• Groupings

• Areas of bulbs or groundcover.

A proper planting plan gives the landscape team much clearer information than a simple list of plants.

Do I Need a Planting Plan?

Not every small garden requires a highly detailed plan.

But a planting plan becomes increasingly valuable where:

• Borders are large

• Planting is complex

• Multiple species are repeated

• Contractors are installing the scheme

• The garden is being built in phases.

Our Do I Need Drawings for My Garden? page explores the wider role of garden drawings.

Structure Comes First

The strongest planting schemes usually contain a clear structural layer.

This may come from:

• Evergreen shrubs

• Hedging

• Trees

• Repeated grasses

• Architectural plants.

These elements provide continuity throughout the year.

Seasonal plants can then move through that structure.

Trees in Planting Design

Trees can provide:

• Height

• Scale

• Shade

• Screening

• Autumn colour

• Blossom

• Structure.

They are often among the most important plants in a garden.

Their location should be considered early because they affect:

• Views

• Privacy

• Light

• Long-term scale.

Specimen Trees

Larger specimen trees can create immediate impact.

They may be particularly useful where the design requires:

• Instant maturity

• Strong structure

• Privacy.

But size should be appropriate to:

• Site access

• Garden scale

• Long-term growth.

Shrubs in Planting Design

Shrubs can form the middle structural layer.

They may provide:

• Evergreen foliage

• Flowers

• Berries

• Scent

• Winter stems.

A strong shrub framework can reduce dependence on short-lived seasonal colour.

Herbaceous Perennials

Perennials can provide:

• Colour

• Movement

• Seasonal change.

But they should normally be used within a broader structure.

Planting a collection of perennials without enough permanent structure can leave borders looking empty through winter.

Ornamental Grasses

Grasses can provide:

• Movement

• Texture

• Repetition

• Winter interest.

They are particularly useful in:

• Naturalistic gardens

• Prairie-style planting

• Contemporary schemes.

Our Prairie Gardens page explores how grasses and perennials can be combined at scale.

Naturalistic Planting Design

Naturalistic planting aims to create a relaxed appearance while remaining carefully planned.

It often relies on:

• Repetition

• Layers

• Matrix planting

• Grasses

• Perennials.

Our Naturalistic Gardens page explores this approach in more detail.

Prairie Planting

Prairie planting typically uses:

• Repeated grasses

• Long-flowering perennials

• Large drifts

• Strong seasonal change.

It can work particularly well in:

• Large sunny borders

• Contemporary landscapes

• Rural gardens.

The apparent spontaneity is usually underpinned by deliberate repetition and spacing.

Formal Planting Design

Formal planting relies more heavily on:

• Geometry

• Clipped structure

• Repetition

• Symmetry.

Typical elements might include:

• Hedging

• Topiary

• Repeated trees

• Controlled perennial planting.

Our Formal Gardens page explores this style.

Contemporary Planting Design

Contemporary gardens often benefit from relatively restrained plant palettes.

This may involve:

• Repeating grasses

• Architectural foliage

• Multi-stem trees

• Blocks of perennials.

Our Contemporary Gardens page explores how planting can soften modern hard landscaping.

Modern Garden Planting

Modern planting often works best when the plant palette remains clear and deliberate.

Our Modern Gardens page explores how strong planting can complement:

• Clean lines

• Large paving

• Architectural materials.

Country Garden Planting

Country gardens often suit a more generous planting style.

This may combine:

• Trees

• Shrubs

• Herbaceous borders

• Meadow areas

• Informal hedging.

Our Country Gardens page explores how planting can transition from the house into the wider landscape.

Planting for Period Properties

Planting should respond to architecture as well as horticulture.

A scheme around a period house may need to feel:

• Established

• Layered

• Appropriate to the building.

Our Garden Design for Period Properties page explores this relationship.

Planting for Listed Buildings

Historic properties may require particular sensitivity.

The planting should complement rather than compete with:

• Historic elevations

• Existing walls

• Mature landscape.

Our Garden Design for Listed Buildings page explores the wider design considerations.

Planting for New-Build Gardens

New-build gardens often begin with very little existing structure.

This can create an opportunity to establish:

• Trees

• Screening

• Hedging

• Large borders

from the beginning.

Our New-Build Gardens page explores common issues including:

• Poor soil

• Drainage

• Overlooking.

Planting Design for Small Gardens

Small gardens need particularly disciplined planting.

Too many different species can make the space feel visually fragmented.

A stronger approach may involve:

• Fewer species

• More repetition

• Vertical planting

• Carefully selected trees.

Our Small Garden Design page explores how every element needs to work harder in a compact garden.

Planting Design for Large Gardens

Large landscapes require planting at a different scale.

Small isolated groups can disappear visually.

Instead, consider:

• Repeated tree groups

• Larger drifts

• Strong hedging

• Meadow areas.

Our Large Gardens page explores the importance of hierarchy and masterplanning.

Planting Design for Courtyard Gardens

Courtyards can be particularly planting-led despite their limited size.

Useful strategies include:

• Vertical foliage

• Evergreen structure

• Climbers

• Containers

• Small trees.

Our Courtyard Gardens page explores how planting can soften enclosed spaces.

Planting for North-Facing Gardens

Shade should influence the plant palette.

A north-facing garden does not need to be dull.

It may suit plants valued for:

• Foliage

• Texture

• Shade tolerance.

Our North-Facing Gardens page explores how layout and planting can respond to limited direct sunlight.

Planting for Full Sun

Sunny gardens can support a wide range of:

• Perennials

• Grasses

• Mediterranean-style planting.

But exposure and drought risk should still be considered.

The correct plant depends on more than simply hours of sunlight.

Planting for Partial Shade

Part-shade conditions can support particularly rich combinations of:

• Ferns

• Shrubs

• Woodland perennials

• Foliage plants.

Understanding the difference between:

• Dry shade

• Moist shade

is particularly important.

Planting for Clay Soil

Many gardens across North West England have heavy clay.

Clay can be:

• Nutrient rich

• Moisture retentive

• Difficult when waterlogged

• Hard when dry.

The solution is not necessarily to replace all the soil.

Instead, select plants that can tolerate the conditions and improve the soil appropriately.

Our Clay Soil Gardens page explores this in more detail.

Planting and Drainage

Plants cannot be selected without considering how the site handles water.

Some thrive in:

• Moist ground.

Others require:

• Free-draining soil.

If the garden is persistently waterlogged, drainage may need to be addressed before planting.

Our Garden Drainage page explores the wider issue.

Planting for Wet Gardens

Wet ground can sometimes be treated as an opportunity.

Rather than trying to make every area dry, certain zones can support moisture-tolerant planting.

The key is understanding whether the moisture is:

• Seasonal

• Permanent

• Caused by poor drainage.

Planting for Windy Gardens

Exposed gardens require plants that can tolerate:

• Wind

• Drying

• Mechanical movement.

Shelter can gradually be created through:

• Hedging

• Trees

• Structural planting.

Planting should respond to the actual exposure rather than rely solely on hardiness ratings.

Planting for Coastal Gardens

Coastal sites may face:

• Salt

• Wind

• Exposure.

Plant selection should therefore be more specific.

The wider landscape may also benefit from:

• Shelter belts

• Robust evergreen structure.

Planting for Privacy

Planting can be one of the most effective ways to reduce overlooking.

Options include:

• Trees

• Hedging

• Tall shrubs

• Climbers.

Our Garden Privacy page explores how planting can work alongside screens and structures.

Trees for Privacy

Trees can provide targeted screening at a higher level than conventional fencing.

This can be particularly useful where neighbouring:

• Windows

• Balconies

• Extensions

create overlooking.

Our Overlooked Garden page explores this problem in more detail.

Planting Around Pergolas

Pergolas can become much more integrated into the garden when softened with planting.

Possible approaches include:

• Climbers

• Shrubs around posts

• Layered borders.

Our Pergola Ideas page explores ways structures and planting can work together.

Planting Around Patios

Patio planting should soften edges without making circulation difficult.

Useful approaches include:

• Deep borders

• Repeated grasses

• Structural shrubs

• Small trees.

The planting should help the patio feel part of the garden rather than an isolated hard surface.

Planting Around Outdoor Kitchens

Planting can soften an outdoor kitchen and help connect it visually to the garden.

But consider:

• Smoke

• Heat

• Access

• Maintenance.

Our Garden Design Around an Outdoor Kitchen page explores how the kitchen should integrate with the wider design.

Planting Around Fire Pits

Plants around fire-pit areas should be selected and positioned sensibly.

The layout needs to preserve:

• Circulation

• Safe distances

• Views.

Our Garden Design Around a Fire Pit page explores the wider design considerations.

Planting Around Water Features

Water provides opportunities for:

• Reflections

• Movement

• Moisture-loving planting.

The planting should support rather than obscure the feature.

Our Garden Water Feature Ideas page explores different approaches.

Planting and Garden Lighting

Lighting can extend the visual life of planting into the evening.

It can highlight:

• Multi-stem trees

• Grasses

• Architectural foliage

• Bark.

Our Garden Lighting Ideas page explores how selective lighting can reveal planting structure without overlighting the garden.

Planting for Outdoor Living Spaces

Planting plays an important role around:

• Dining areas

• Seating

• Outdoor kitchens.

It can create:

• Shelter

• Privacy

• Scent

• Enclosure.

Our Creating an Outdoor Living Space page explores how planting supports the wider experience.

Planting for Evening Entertaining

If the garden is frequently used after dark, consider plants with:

• Scent

• Pale flowers

• Strong silhouettes.

Our Garden Design for Evening Entertaining page explores this type of garden use.

Planting for Families

Family gardens need planting that is:

• Attractive

• Resilient

• Appropriate to use.

The design should also allow for:

• Play

• Paths

• Lawn

• Seating.

Our Family Garden Design page explores how these needs can coexist.

Dog-Friendly Planting Design

Dogs can influence:

• Plant selection

• Border positioning

• Routes

• Lawn use.

Our Dog-Friendly Garden Design page explores the broader layout.

For planting specifically, see Dog-Friendly Garden Plants.

Accessible Planting Design

Accessible gardens can use planting to create:

• Scent

• Texture

• Seasonal interest

at a height where it can be enjoyed comfortably.

Our Accessible Garden Design page explores the wider principles.

Raised Beds for Accessible Gardens

Raised planting can bring:

• Herbs

• Flowers

• Sensory plants

closer to the user.

Our Raised Beds for Accessible Gardens page explores this approach.

Sensory Planting

Planting can engage:

• Sight

• Smell

• Touch

• Sound.

Our Sensory Garden Design for Accessibility page explores how sensory planting can support inclusive garden design.

Low-Maintenance Planting Design

Low maintenance does not mean:

no maintenance.

It means designing to reduce unnecessary work.

Strategies may include:

• Fewer species

• Larger planting groups

• Long-lived plants

• Strong evergreen structure

• Groundcover.

Our Low Maintenance Accessible Garden page explores this in an accessibility context.

Reduce Maintenance Through Plant Choice

The right plant in the right position generally requires less intervention.

Maintenance increases where plants are:

• Too large for the space

• Unsuitable for soil

• Unsuitable for light.

Designing around site conditions is therefore one of the best maintenance strategies.

Planting Density

New planting should normally be dense enough to establish a coherent scheme without excessive long-term competition.

Too sparse and the garden can remain:

• Bare

• Weed-prone.

Too dense and plants may:

• Compete

• Require frequent thinning.

Spacing should consider mature growth.

Repetition in Planting Design

Repetition is one of the most important tools in planting design.

Repeated plants help:

• Connect different borders

• Create rhythm

• Make the garden feel intentional.

A garden containing dozens of unique plants can feel more like a collection than a composition.

Layering Plants

Planting is often most successful when organised in layers.

These might include:

Trees

Upper structure.

Shrubs

Permanent middle layer.

Perennials and Grasses

Seasonal layer.

Groundcover

Lowest layer.

The layers interact to create depth.

Seasonal Interest

A good planting design should consider the whole year.

Spring

• Bulbs

• Blossom

• Emerging foliage.

Summer

• Perennials

• Grasses

• Flowering shrubs.

Autumn

• Seedheads

• Berries

• Foliage colour.

Winter

• Evergreen structure

• Bark

• Stems

• Seedheads.

The aim is not necessarily maximum colour in every month.

It is maintaining interest throughout the year.

Winter Structure

Winter is one of the best tests of planting design.

When flowers disappear, the garden still needs:

• Shape

• Trees

• Hedges

• Evergreen planting

• Seedheads.

Strong winter structure usually improves the garden in every season.

Colour in Planting Design

Colour schemes might be:

• Restricted

• Tonal

• Contrasting

• Seasonal.

But colour alone should not dominate plant selection.

Foliage:

• Shape

• Texture

• Form

usually lasts longer than flowers.

Foliage Is Often More Important Than Flowers

A flower may last:

• Days

• Weeks.

Foliage can influence the garden for:

• Months

• Most of the year.

Professional planting design therefore considers foliage as a primary design material.

Texture in Planting

Contrast between:

• Fine grasses

• Large leaves

• Glossy shrubs

• Soft perennials

can make planting visually rich even when little is flowering.

Plant Form

Plants also have different forms:

• Upright

• Rounded

• Arching

• Spreading

• Columnar.

Combining these carefully creates stronger compositions.

Planting for Wildlife

A diverse planting scheme can support:

• Pollinators

• Birds

• Invertebrates.

Useful elements include:

• Flowers

• Seeds

• Berries

• Shelter.

Wildlife value can be incorporated without turning the entire garden into a wilderness.

Native Plants

Native species can be highly valuable in appropriate settings.

But good wildlife planting does not necessarily require every plant to be native.

The broader objective may include:

• Nectar

• Pollen

• Seeds

• Habitat.

Hedging in Planting Design

Hedges can provide:

• Structure

• Privacy

• Boundaries

• Wildlife value.

They may be:

• Formal

• Informal

• Evergreen

• Deciduous.

Their long-term size should be considered from the start.

Evergreen Planting

Evergreens provide winter structure.

But an entire garden of evergreens can feel visually static.

Balance them with:

• Deciduous shrubs

• Perennials

• Grasses.

Deciduous Planting

Deciduous plants contribute:

• Seasonal change

• Blossom

• Autumn colour

• Winter stems.

Loss of foliage can be an advantage where winter sunlight is valuable.

Climbers

Climbers can soften:

• Walls

• Fences

• Pergolas.

They are particularly useful where horizontal planting space is limited.

The support structure and eventual plant weight should be considered.

Bulbs

Bulbs can extend the season dramatically.

They can be woven through:

• Borders

• Grass

• Woodland planting.

Successional flowering can provide interest from late winter onwards.

Meadow Planting

Meadow planting can work well in larger gardens.

But it requires a different management approach from a conventional lawn.

It can create:

• Seasonal colour

• Wildlife value

• Movement.

Planting and Lawns

Planting should relate to lawn shape.

A lawn is often strongest when it has:

• Clear geometry

• Defined edges

• Purpose.

Borders should not simply be narrow strips around the perimeter.

Better Borders Are Usually Deeper

Where space allows, deeper borders make it easier to create:

• Layering

• Repetition

• Height variation.

Very narrow borders can severely restrict planting possibilities.

Planting Around Existing Mature Plants

Not every garden needs to start again.

Existing:

• Trees

• Shrubs

• Hedges

can provide valuable maturity.

A planting designer can decide what to:

• Retain

• Move

• Remove

• Build around.

Renovating Existing Borders

An existing border may be improved by:

• Removing unsuccessful plants

• Strengthening repetition

• Introducing structure

• Adding seasonal layers.

Complete replacement is not always necessary.

Planting Design After Building Work

House renovations and extensions often damage:

• Soil

• Existing planting

• Drainage.

Our Garden Design After Building Work page explores how the landscape can recover once construction finishes.

Soil Preparation

Even the best planting plan can fail if the soil is poorly prepared.

The installation process may require:

• Cultivation

• Organic matter

• Debris removal

• Drainage improvement.

Soft landscaping should support the planting design.

Mulching

Mulch can help:

• Reduce weeds

• Retain moisture

• Improve soil.

The appropriate material depends on the scheme.

Mulch should support the planting rather than become the main visual feature.

Watering New Planting

New plants require establishment watering.

This is particularly important for:

• Trees

• Hedges

• Large shrubs.

Larger plants do not automatically require less care.

Often they need more careful establishment.

Irrigation

Larger schemes may benefit from irrigation.

This is particularly useful where:

• Planting is extensive

• Large trees are installed

• Client cannot water manually.

The decision should be made before all hard landscaping is complete.

Planting and Climate in North West England

Planting across North West England needs to respond to:

• High rainfall

• Heavy soils

• Exposure

• Local microclimates.

The same plant can perform very differently between:

• Sheltered Cheshire garden

• Exposed Ribble Valley property

• Urban Manchester courtyard.

Professional planting design should respond to the actual site.

Planting Design in Lancashire

Lancashire gardens can range from:

• Coastal locations

• Urban gardens

• Rural properties

• Exposed upland sites.

Soil and exposure can therefore vary considerably.

Planting Design in Cheshire

Cheshire properties often include:

• Larger gardens

• Period homes

• Contemporary extensions.

Planting may need to balance a polished architectural setting with generous landscape structure.

Planting Design in Greater Manchester

Urban and suburban gardens may need to address:

• Privacy

• Smaller spaces

• Existing mature trees

• Shading from buildings.

Careful plant selection can create strong gardens even where space is limited.

Planting Design in the Ribble Valley

Ribble Valley gardens often sit within a strong rural landscape.

Planting may need to respond to:

• Views

• Exposure

• Existing trees

• Country architecture.

The aim should often be to connect the garden visually with its wider setting.

Planting Design and Budget

Planting budgets can vary significantly.

Costs depend on:

• Border area

• Plant density

• Plant sizes

• Tree sizes

• Species

• Soil preparation.

A smaller number of large plants may cost more than many smaller plants.

Small Plants vs Mature Plants

Smaller plants are generally:

• Less expensive

• Easier to establish

• Slower to create immediate impact.

Larger plants can provide:

• Instant structure

• Greater maturity.

A good scheme may combine both.

Where Should You Spend the Planting Budget?

If the budget is limited, prioritise:

• Trees

• Structural shrubs

• Key screening.

These elements can be harder to add retrospectively.

Smaller seasonal plants can often fill out over time.

Planting Design Within a £50,000–£100,000 Garden

For gardens within this investment range, planting should be considered as an integral part of the budget rather than a final allowance.

Our Garden Design £50,000–£100,000 Budget page explores how the overall project can be balanced.

Planting Design for £100,000+ Gardens

Larger projects may include:

• Mature trees

• Large hedges

• Extensive borders

• Meadow areas.

Our Garden Design £100,000+ Projects page explores this scale of garden transformation.

How Much Should I Budget for Landscaping?

Planting should sit within the overall landscaping budget.

Our How to Set a Budget for Garden Landscaping page provides a framework for prioritising:

• Hard landscaping

• Planting

• Features.

Do Not Spend Everything on Hard Landscaping

It is easy for:

• Paving

• Walls

• Structures

to consume most of the budget.

That can leave very little for plants.

The result may be technically impressive but visually harsh.

A garden needs enough planting budget to soften and complete the landscape.

How Much Does Landscaping Cost?

For broader project costs, see How Much Does Landscaping Cost?.

The balance between:

• Groundworks

• Hard landscaping

• Planting

varies from project to project.

Planting Design and Maintenance

Every planting scheme requires maintenance.

Typical work may include:

• Pruning

• Cutting back

• Dividing

• Mulching

• Watering.

The design should consider the client's realistic willingness to maintain the garden.

A Planting Scheme Should Mature Gracefully

A new border should not only be designed for:

installation day.

It should anticipate:

• Year one

• Year three

• Year five.

Plants grow.

Their relationships change.

The best planting plans anticipate that development.

Avoid Planting Everything Too Close Together

Dense planting creates fast visual impact.

But if plants are positioned without considering mature size, they can quickly require:

• Heavy pruning

• Removal

• Thinning.

The scheme should balance immediate effect with long-term growth.

Avoid a Plant Collection

One of the most common problems in domestic gardens is:

one of everything.

This can create a visually restless garden.

A professional planting designer may deliberately repeat the same plant many times because repetition provides coherence.

Avoid Designing Only for Summer

The garden needs to work throughout the year.

Summer may provide the greatest flowering display.

But winter should still contain:

• Form

• Bark

• Seedheads

• Evergreens.

Avoid Choosing Plants Only From Photographs

A plant may look beautiful in a catalogue photograph.

But ask whether it suits:

• Your soil

• Your light

• Your exposure

• Your available space.

Planting design starts with the site, not the image.

Garden Planting Ideas

If you are researching different planting styles, our Garden Planting Ideas page explores broader inspiration.

This planting-design page focuses more specifically on the professional process of creating a coherent scheme.

Planting Design and Garden Design Are Different but Connected

Garden design establishes:

• Layout

• Spaces

• Levels

• Structure.

Planting design develops the living layer within that framework.

Our What Does a Garden Designer Do? page explores the broader role.

Do I Need a Garden Designer or Planting Designer?

If you are happy with the existing layout but dislike the planting, a planting-design service may be sufficient.

If you also need to change:

• Patios

• Levels

• Paths

• Walls

• Outdoor living spaces

a broader garden design may be more appropriate.

Our Do I Need a Garden Designer? page explores this distinction.

What Information Does a Planting Designer Need?

Useful information may include:

• Site dimensions

• Photos

• Soil conditions

• Sun and shade

• Existing plants

• Preferred style

• Maintenance expectations.

Our broader What Information Does a Garden Designer Need? page provides a useful checklist.

Questions to Ask a Garden Designer About Planting

Useful questions include:

• Is planting design included?

• Will I receive a planting plan?

• Are quantities specified?

• Who sources the plants?

• How is soil considered?

• How is maintenance considered?

Our Questions to Ask a Garden Designer page explores the wider appointment process.

Planting and Landscape Contractors

If a landscape contractor is installing the scheme, the information should be clear enough to understand:

• Plant species

• Quantities

• Sizes

• Locations.

Our Questions to Ask a Landscaper page provides a broader contractor checklist.

Planting Design as Part of a Complete Garden Transformation

The planting should complete rather than decorate the landscape.

It should:

• Frame views

• Soften structures

• Create privacy

• Bring movement

• Provide seasonal change

• Connect the garden to the property.

Our Complete Garden Transformation page explores the whole-project approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is planting design?

Planting design is the professional planning of trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, hedges, climbers and other plants within a garden.

What does a planting designer do?

A planting designer assesses site conditions, develops the planting style, selects appropriate plants and creates a coordinated planting plan.

What is a planting plan?

A planting plan is a drawing showing where particular plants should be located, usually with quantities and plant names.

Do I need a planting plan?

For larger or more complex planting schemes, a detailed planting plan helps ensure the design is installed accurately.

Is planting design included in garden design?

It can be, but this depends on the service. Always check what is included in the design fee.

Can you redesign just my planting?

Yes. Where the existing garden structure works, planting can potentially be redesigned without rebuilding the entire garden.

Can planting design make a garden lower maintenance?

Yes. Appropriate plant choice, spacing, repetition and groundcover can help reduce unnecessary maintenance.

Can planting provide privacy?

Yes. Trees, hedges and shrubs can provide highly effective screening.

Can you design planting for clay soil?

Yes. Many plants perform well in clay where the site conditions are understood correctly.

Can you design planting for shade?

Yes. Shade can support very attractive foliage-led planting schemes.

Can you design planting for a north-facing garden?

Yes. See North-Facing Gardens.

Can you design naturalistic planting?

Yes. See Naturalistic Gardens.

Can you design prairie planting?

Yes. See Prairie Gardens.

Can you design formal planting?

Yes. See Formal Gardens.

Can you design planting for dogs?

Yes. See Dog-Friendly Garden Plants.

Can planting support wildlife?

Yes. Flowers, seeds, berries and shelter can all contribute to wildlife value.

Do you design planting for large gardens?

Yes. Large gardens often require planting at a much stronger scale with repeated trees, hedges and larger drifts.

Does planting design include trees?

Yes. Trees often provide some of the most important structure in a planting scheme.

Does planting design include hedging?

Yes.

Does planting design include bulbs?

It can. Bulbs can provide valuable seasonal layers within established planting.

How much does planting design cost?

The design fee depends on the size and complexity of the project, while plant supply costs vary according to quantities, species and plant sizes. For the wider design budget, see How Much Does Garden Design Cost?.

How much should I budget for planting?

That depends on the scale of the garden, planting density and level of maturity required. Planting should be considered within the overall budget rather than treated as a final leftover allowance.

Good Planting Design Makes the Garden Better Every Year

Hard landscaping often looks closest to finished on the day it is completed.

Planting is different.

It develops.

The:

trees grow

shrubs establish

perennials spread

grasses mature

borders knit together.

A successful planting design should therefore not be judged only on the first day.

It should have enough structure to look purposeful when young and enough space to mature gracefully.

The best planting schemes create a balance between:

structure + repetition + seasonality + horticultural suitability.

At Kirman Design, planting is treated as a fundamental part of the garden rather than decoration added after construction.

If you are looking for professional planting design in Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, the Ribble Valley or elsewhere across North West England, Kirman Design can develop a complete planting scheme as part of a new garden or help transform the planting within an existing landscape.